Starter for internal-combustion engines.



APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, I918.

Iatented Feb. 25, 1919.

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FRANK IE. FISHER, 033 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 3919.

Application filed February 18, 1918. Serial No. 217,773.

this specification.

My invention relates to a starter for internal combustion engines and is especially designed for use upon an automobile of the Ford type.

It is well known that the available space on a Ford automobile for the installation of a device of this character is very limited and when installed it is desirable that i should be done without interfering with any of the working parts of the motor or vehicle;-at a minimum cost; and be readily accessible for inspection or repairs.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide means for supporting an electricstarter and generator unit by substituting for the. usual front cover plate of the cylinder of the motor, a cover plate adapted to meet not only the requirements of the motor, but upon which the electric starting and generatorunit is adapted to be bolted that it may be supported thereby. I

A further object oi the invention 18 to provide for the ready inspection, or removal of the electric starter and generator unit tor repairs, without disturbing any of the parts relating to the motor.

A still further object is to provide registering means, whereby the replacing and securing of the electric starting and generator unit upon-the supporting cover plate of the motor may be rapidly and accurately accomplished.

In chain driven devices of this character, it has been found in practice, that .on account of carelessness in the adjustment of the spark control that the chain is sometimes brolren through back-firing oi the motor.

One of the features therefore of the present invention is the employment of a train of gears connecting the generator shaft of the starting unit with the crank-shaft of the engine, in lieu of the chain driving connection commonly employed, in order that the objection referred to may be overcome.

A further object of the invention is the employment of means adapted to serve as a shock absorber between the crank-shaft of the engine and the starting unit, in order to relieve the strain due to back-firing of the engine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description roceeds the invention resides in the comlnationand arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed. it being understood that changes may be made in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of the same.

In the drawings accompanying this specification:--

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a Ford motor secured to its supporting frame with an electric starting and generator unit installed thereon, the same being mounted. on a cover plate especially designed for the requirements of the motor and for supporting the starting unit.

Fig. 2' is a side view of the starting unit and a fragmentary portion of the motor.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the cover plate of the cylinder and the end plate of the starting unit bolted thereto.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view on line 4l'l: of Fig. 3, showing a tongue and groove connection between'the respec tive cover plates of the cylinder and starting unit, to provide for rapid and accurate assembling of the parts.

Referring now to the letters of reference placed upon the drawings:

A, denotes the supporting frame of an automobile. 3, indicates an internal com bustion engine bolted thereto, that shown being of the Ford type of motor. C, designates a cover plate for the engine cylinder which in the present invention is substituted for that usually employed on the Ford inotor, the'construction being such as to adapt it to fully meet the requirements of the ennine and in addition to receive and support an electric starting and generator unit l3, secured thereto.

E, indicates a gear keyed to the crankshaft of the engine in mesh with a gear F, supported by a stub shaft journaled in the bolted to the case memes cover plate G. G, denotes a shock absorbing gB2ll,--Sllllll2l1' in character to that shown in my application for patent Serial No. 211,135 for engine starter, tiled January 10, 19iS,- mounted upon the generator shaft H ot the starting unit and in mesh with the gear F. The shock absorbing G is provided with suitable cushioning means which is interposed between gear and the generator shaft for absorbing and dissipating the shocks to prevent the some from being trans mittcd to the generator shaft. As the stars ing and generator unit proper -torms no part of this invention and is otherwise shown in the application referred to it will be unnecessary to go into a detailed description. of the same. i. indicates an end cover plate of the starting unit D, having 3. projecting flange i, encircling tie gear G; and C, is 21. like flange projecting from the plate encircling the gear To the flanged portion oi. the plate C, and i, are bolted cover slates, (not shown) secured by bolts engaging the lugs v, and i, of the respective plates.

Extending laterally from the flanges of? the plates C, and I, are abutting portions C, and I, having a tongue and groove counec tion i that the parts may be readily assembled and properly cent red. C are 'iiitl1S- verse bolts to secure the starting ator unit to the plate Having indicated the several parts ll terence letters, it will be readily seen the starting and generator unit may be readily removed for inspection or repairs upon the withdrawal of the bolts C securing it to the supportiugplute =1 :-the letter also forming the cover plate of the e! ginc cylinder.

It will also be apparent that by provi 2 train of gears between the generator Lit of the starting unit and the crank-shaft of the engine to turn over the latter, in place of the usual (lllfillig chain connection, that the danger of damage to the driving connection through buclcliring of the engine will be practically or ci'itirel 'overcome,

And as further szrieguerd njury to the driving connection it will evident, that. the shock absorbing gear, employed in the train of gears connectin the starting unit with the crankshaft of the engine, will also serve to relieve any undue strain (1211 sod. by the book-firing of the internal comboslion engine.

l'l'ziviug thus described my invention what. i claim 1. lo :1. device of th charii cover pl for the cyiini combustion 'li line having iu r portions located it one s ii. portion of the said cover p a l ell H'lillillii" and goiir'otoi" unit. :1 plate bolted to said unit luiving pr "ectiu: ortions adapted to abut against the pro ecting porstarting and generator unit, an end plate bolted to the end of said unit having projecting portions adapted to abut againstthe projecting portions of the cylinder cover, said plates being arranged in substantially the some transverse plane, and bolts extend ing through said projecting portions to so cure said starting and generator unit to the cover plate of the cylinder.

In a device of the character described, an engine. a crank-shaft, e front cover plate for the cylinder of the engine having opposite projecting portions located at one side of the upper portion of the cover plate and perforated for the passage of bolts, on electric starter and generator unit, an end plate for said unit having projecting portions adapted to abut against the projecting portions or? the cylinder cover plate, said shutting projccting portions formed with e co-acting tongue and groove to facilitote registration and proper assembling of the parts and in- 'terlocking the said projecting portions, bolts for securing said projecting portions to gether. :1 train of gears adapted to provide :1 drivingrelation between the crankshaft ot' the engine and the generator shaft of the starting unit. and flanges projecting; respectivcly from the front cover plate of the cylinder and the cover plate of the starter unit to iuolose and protect the gears.

i. in a device of the character described, an engine, it crank-shaft, a front cover plots for the cylinder of the engine having projecting; portions to support e starter unit, an electric storm and generator unit, an end plate tor said unit adapted to abutagainst the projecting portions or" the cylinder cover plate in substantially the transverse plane oi the cover plate, bolts for securing the shutting projecting; portions together to engine therefrom, an electric starter and generator gears connecting the starter ,unit with the unit, and end plate for said unit provided crank shaft. and arranged within the flanges. 10 with opposite portions abutting against the I I tes i ny whereof, I gn t s specifi. projccfing portions of the cover plate and catwn m the presen -O two wltllesses:

interlockingtherewithjand secured thereto, FRANK E. FISHER.

suidpml platebeing providedwith upwardly Vitnesses: 4 extending flanges formin continuations of S. E; THOMAS, the flanges of the cover I) ate and a train of Em rs R. T 

